Today (26/02/17) I saw Varekai at The First Direct Arena, Leeds. This is the second Cirque du Soleil I have seen (La Nouba - 2008), so I expected something spectacular. If I am honest I was not blown away. The performances were very good, but throughout the show there were only about 4 major performance parts. I expected to be blown away the whole way through. The music was very good and the performing was seamless, I just expected more. This experience was not helped by the fact that the seating arrangement and placement of the stage meant that we could not see a part of the stage for the whole performance. This was not noted when we bought the, very expensive, tickets, that I thought were close to the front. Instead, they had taken away a portion of the lower seating to have a deeper stage, but this meant we were high up with a bar in front of us, which then dropped down to where the stage was, this blocked our view. This was not indicated in any seating plan when booking the tickets and it really did ruin the experience. I would not watch the show again, I will wait a few years and find a show that is set up properly in one place and not a travelling one, because I am sure an established show in a single venue would not have this problem.

I am normally a huge fun of Cirque du Soleil, the many shows I have seen were always magical and mixed amazing colors, wonderful music and incredible performances that just kept you on the edge of your seat. Varikai on the other was hugely disappointing the music was horrible, the singers average, the performances of the artists nice but not breathtaking and the many supposedly funny intervals between the shows were not funny at all. That was really subpar and I think I even fell asleep at one point... Next time I go to a Cirque du Soleil show I will first read the reviews as I now now that Cirque du Soleil is not always synonymous with extraordinary performances....

I have been to 6 Cirque shows now and this was not even close to any of the others. My daughter and myself were nodding off during this 4pm matinée! The costumes were fun and visually appealing and the talent of the performers was still excellent, however the show was simply boring. Even though there were moments of greatness, they were stained by the rest of the drab performance, which was woefully disappointing. For reference, we have been to: O Zumanity Amaluna Ka TotemI wish I could get my money back as I feel a bit ripped off. I hope this is not a hint of the future of Cirque given the new ownership.

fantastic colors costumes riveting physical feats...progressive in all ways including the magic music...illuminating the concept of evolving with the dream and the myth..so opposite to the world we tinker with in absolute terms...think I will begin painting again....nice article...applauds and salutations, embers creating wings..daunting oppositions ,liberating physical musical ...Varekai? well yes of course a word I have never heard before...such a collaboration ,coaxing the colors of freedom...sneaky humour tip toeing through the land mines of reality..swatting the proverbial laws of one reality...collective a war of emotion..bringing the flame revealing the pains and joys all seated in our souls individually cast into a circle of like minded pains and joys...a battle is won and a struggle worthwhile because emotion is born again and a gain...casting our hope line to the celestial firey circle of time...Poppa G. Brum